Scranton Watching Special Reports Closely

SCRANTON — As police and SWAT Teams search Watertown, Massachusetts door to door, people here Scranton are watching their every move; in restaurants, in barber shops and even in between classes at the University of Scranton.

“My brother actually goes to school in Boston. He was really close to the whole thing that happened this week, and it was scary for him and my family but luckily he is ok,” said Mary Kate Meisenbacher, a University of Scranton freshman.

Meisermbacher said she’s been keeping tabs on the Boston bombing since Monday, and is nervous for her brother who became part of the Boston lock-down.

“As of right now he’s just in his apartment. He doesn’t have school or anything. He’s on lock-down. He’s just with his friends and watching the news,” said Meisermbacher.

Freshman Marisa Riley couldn’t believe the reports earlier this week, but now the tragedy is making her question her faith.

“Having a crisis like this happen really makes you call into question what you believe,” said Riley.

At the Keystone Restaurant on Main Avenue, Dennis Ross of Scranton is glued to these special reports as he stops for lunch.

“I’m interested because it is like it’s right out of a movie. It’s happening in our backyard here. In our country, you know, it’s scary,” said Ross.

For those who haven’t been able to watch the coverage on TV at a local shop or elsewhere, they’ve been keeping up through social media on their smart phones.

“I’ve been following on twitter. There’s a lot of news postings and CNN I go on a lot trying to keep up with it,” said Nathan Kline, a University of Scranton Junior.

Regardless of how people are staying up to date as this story develops, many agree, it’s frightening.

“It’s scary, it’s real scary. You don’t know what’s going to come around the next corner,” said Joel Donnini of Lake Ariel.

“It’s real hard to predict tomorrow what’s going to happen, let alone five, ten years down the road,” said Ross.